Great Bay Matters and it'sonline, anytime.click the image to go to our website

Great Bay Stewards Late Winter 2011 Dear Friends of Great Bay,

Winter is nearly over, still there are many activities you and your family can do around Great Bay that will provide unique experiences related to our beloved Estuary.

Why not take a snowshoe hike on one of the many trails around Great Bay or stroll the boardwalks at the Discovery Center, where there are several outdoor exhibits to explore as well? The Center Campus is open to the public and there is plenty of parking.

This issue highlights the Childrens Winter BayVentures programming, conducted by the staff at the Discovery Center. As the Friends Group to the Center and the GBNERR, the Great Bay Stewards help support these programs through volunteering, Membership and donations by you - thank you.

I have a Save the Date item for you as well this month. The Annual Art of Great Bay is April 29th through May 1st, with a recycled theme, Art of Great Bay in a Whole New Way. featuring re-imagined Art and Fine Crafts. The emphasis will be on three dimensional art and composed of recycled materials. Examples include sculpture, jewelry, and collage. During the Art Show there will also be Green Tours of the Center Campus, highlighting among other things, new Green items available for purchase in the Discovery Store.

Finally, the Brown Bag Lunch Series for March has a talented herbalist presenting Spring Tonics and Teas: just the thing to get you out of the winter doldrums and prepared for spring.

Join the Discovery Center Staff and look for animals and their "autographs" in different habitats around the Center on snowshoes! Over the last couple of years, we have identified fisher tracks in the woods, otter tracks on the salt marsh and, while having our snack, we even saw a bald eagle fly by. Take part in winter activities and games and make a craft to take home.

Join Discovery Center Staff for an overnight in the birch bark covered wigwam. Participate in fire making, cooking dinner over a fire and preparing correctly for a night outside in the winter. Join in outdoor games and activities. Help prepare a warm breakfast on camp stoves in the morning and reflect on your experience with others. Dinner and breakfast provided.

The ice is melting and the sap has started to flow! Join Discovery Center Staff for a day of maple sugaring and experience how people through the ages have tapped trees.We will see and touch real tree tapping tools used by Native Americans, Colonists and people today. Try sap straight from the tree, participate in our Maple tree, participate in our Maple syrup taste test on pancakes for lunch, and make a spile using traditional colonial construction methods.